Park Slope Reader

Meghan Cook

Aiming for Adventure: Get Your Skills On

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In a neighborhood rich with leaders ready to help children grow, athletically as well as creatively, wintertime activities do not have to be confined to the walls of your home. With a variety of sports, hobbies, and live shows at its disposal, Park Slope has plenty to offer every kind of family in the cold stretch between fall and spring. By Meghan Cook

Rolando Balboa, Head Coach at the Brooklyn Fencing Center, is just one of many talented instructors in the neighborhood. Balboa stated that their mission is “to make the fun and excitement of fencing accessible to Brooklynites of all ages.” Like many of the activities listed, fencing is more than a sport. When it comes to educating children, a larger part of engaging their minds is offering them “shine on their own merits.”

John Finn of Birdman Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, who recently opened a new Brooklyn location just north of Park Slope, advocated for his business by emphasizing the importance of bolstering confidence in young students. Finn maintained that defensive martial arts provide great tools to combat bullying by helping students “develop a strong sense of flow through timing and technique, not speed and strength.”

Similarly, Gordon Wormser of Aikido of Park Slope spoke on the importance of teaching young children the art of self-defense through gentle measures with “smiles and safety.” Wormser went on to say that the atmosphere of their center is disciplined, yet fun. “It offers an environment in which your child can grow physically, intellectually, and emotionally,” explained Wormser.

Ora Fruchter of Yellow Sneaker, a local group that entertains young minds with music and puppetry, also focused on the importance of building a light, comfortable environment where kids can be themselves. “At our weekly Yellow Sneaker sing-alongs you’ll find a community of people and puppets who can’t wait to have some fun, make some friends and dance it out,” said Fruchter. “We create a cozy and welcoming space that is fun and laid back for kids and their caregivers.”

This winter, consider looking into the following children’s programs local to Park Slope and enjoy the dual benefits of supporting community businesses while encouraging your kids to take on new skills.

 

Brooklyn Boulders

Arm your kids with the bravery and self-assurance to tackle obstacles and climb new heights at Brooklyn Boulders. With a ratio of one belayer paired to five kids, children are always given the consideration and care they need to ensure their safety while rock climbing. Kids Academy is available daily, while Brooklyn Boulders Adventures offer full-week programs. Both are open to children aged 5-12. Prices range from $49-$709.

Website: https://brooklynboulders.com/brooklyn/youth/

 

Gotham Archery

Located just north of Park Slope in Gowanus is Gotham Archery, a recently renovated archery facility. Gotham Archery boasts 43 lanes, equipment rentals, and introductory classes for new beginners. This activity is mostly reserved for older children as only ten and up are allowed access to equipment, per safety concerns, though children as young as 8 can participate in the Junior Olympic Archery Development program.

Website: https://www.got-archery.com

 

Birdman Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Birdman Brazilian Jiu Jitsu boasts a brand new, state of the art facility just a few blocks up from Union St subway station. While they just opened their newest location in Park Slope on January 1st, instructor John “Birdman” Finn has been practicing and teaching the art form for many years, and offers experienced black belt instruction. Jiu Jitsu promotes team building, confidence, and dedication to technique. Open to children from ages seven and up.

Website: http://birdmanbjj.com

 

Pure Energy Martial Arts

Toronto native Tessa Gordon owns and operates Pure Energy Martial Arts, now a staple in the Park Slope Community. With a 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Master Gordon exhibits full command and knowledge of the Korean art form, and uses her school to share and teach that ability to her students. Gordon hosts kids programs for children as young as three and for teens/adults of all belts. Programs include: Juniors, Cage Fitness, Demo Team, and Birdman Brazilian Ju Jitsu. Free trial classes available.

Website: http://www.pureenergymartialarts.com

 

Brooklyn Fencing

Right at the top of Park Slope is Brooklyn Fencing Center. Fencing is a unique skill that fosters coordination and poise. For kids with a competitive streak, Brooklyn Fencing also hosts tournaments throughout the year. The center offers child classes for kids aged 7-9, junior classes for 10-17. Levels are inclusive to fencers new to the sport as well as for the more advanced: “New Beginners,” “Intermediate & Competitive Fencers,” and “Bouting.” Private lessons are also available. Beginner group rates start at $199 a month.

Website: http://www.brooklynfencing.com

 

Ice Skating

Can’t get enough of the cold? Consider taking the kids ice-skating in the LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park. Lakeside offers two outdoor winter rinks to skate circles around your neighbors or hug the wall to your heart’s content. If you’d prefer a warmer activity, scurry inside for a hot apple cider at the Bluestone Cafe and pop on some rollerblades to skate indoors. Check back in the spring to explore Lakeside in new ways on boats and bikes. Admission to ice-skate is $7 on weekdays, $10 on weekends. Rollerblading: $6 on weekdays/$9 on weekends. Respective ice-skates and rollerblades are priced separately.

Website: http://lakesidebrooklyn.com/activities/

 

Aikido of Park Slope

Park Slope is also host to Brooklyn’s largest aikido dojo. Aikido is a Japanese martial art created in the 1900s that is protective, disciplined, and disarming; its aim is not to fight, but to neutralize opponents. Aikido’s children’s program is open to kids from ages five and over, for lessons which inspire problem solving and peaceful combat. Available at a monthly rate of $100.

Website: http://www.aikidoofparkslope.com

 

Puppet Show

For little ones with a creative spark, catch the Yellow Sneaker Puppet Sing-Alongs every Thursday at 10:30am at Sir D’s Lounge on Union Street. The musical group and their silly puppet friends join in song (both original and traditional) as they encourage children to clap and sing along. $10 for kids, $5 for each additional sibling.

Website: http://www.yellowsneakerpuppets.com

PLEASURE SAGE

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A Conversation with Sid Azmi, a resident of Park Slope, and the owner of please, an educated Pleasure Shop.

It’s an Fall afternoon in Park Slope and pleasure boutique Please sits perched on the corner in a swirl of sunny windows, glass tables, and exposed brick. A song spills out of the speakers as a man wanders in and owner Sid Azmi leaps up to assist him. He needs something specific for his girlfriend; they don’t carry it, but could she suggest something similar? He asks how much, already keen to purchase it, but she advises him to talk to his partner again first. As he steps back out onto the street, she waves goodbye and wishes him the best. To Azmi, people are more important than the sale. The items she sells just happen to include vibrators.

Azmi is open with her gestures and smiles, as well as her story. “I grew up in Singapore and moved here when I was 19. I was basically running away from home,” said Azmi. After moving to the United States to attend Suffolk University in Boston, she became a radiation therapist and worked intimately with cancer patients. “I worked with a lot of patients who were diagnosed with urological-based cancers like prostate cancer,” Azmi reflected. She noticed that even while people were surviving their cancer, the quality of their sex lives were rarely discussed. Her patients grappled with vulnerable issues as certain sexual experiences dramatically changed or vanished completely. And while they faced these problems, no platform existed on which to discuss it. “The medical world is so straight-laced,” said Azmi. “Anything that was sexual was considered taboo.” As a chief therapist, Azmi found herself wanting to open a small business and provide a comfortable space for people to discuss and improve their sex lives without limitations. “The changing of how people think about sex has always been in my life as a conversation piece,” said Azmi. “So how do we put that into a business form? We put it into a store that symbolizes that. The store is not just a financial endeavor, it’s more of a social mission that we carry.” For many, the idea of shopping for a pleasure item is unthinkable. Some still have trouble looking their local bodega owner in the eye when buying condoms, let alone purchasing a sex toy. Azmi wanted to create a space that was “transparent, open, and welcoming” while also hoping to reframe the way people think about stores like hers. For those who were confused or uneasy about broaching the topic of sexual pleasure, Azmi found that most were often scared of what they didn’t fully understand. As she educated others, she believed the best way of achieving a productive discussion was meeting them halfway with patience and humor. “Sex is one of our main driving forces, and we don’t talk about it,” asserted Azmi. She hoped to embolden people in her community to not only re-acquaint themselves with what brings them pleasure, but ask for it without guilt or fear of stigma. Azmi believes that there’s more to sex than just the act itself. “Sex enables us to be assertive and confident. It contributes to wellness, exercise, and mental stimulation. When you are happy internally, that joy perpetuates outward.” Azmi went on to explain her pride in owning a business in Park Slope and admitted that while small businesses generate less revenue financially and meet greater barriers, she enjoys the experience of serving her neighbors. “We are heavily dependant on our community,” Azmi stressed. “In the long run, learning to have a relationship with your community is a very important aspect of any business. People don’t buy things just because they really want them; they buy things also because they like you. I think the second part is what keeps a business open longer.” And even with simple likability proving hugely beneficial in attracting patrons, Azmi hopes that it goes deeper than that. “I think that when people can identify with something – whether it’s the products, or the mission, or the people working in there – they’re more proud to be in those communities,” Azmi beamed. “I’m proud to be in this community because my store exists. Even if it wasn’t my store, it would make me think, ‘Oh, my neighborhood is cool!’”

http://www.pleasenewyork.com

DETERMINATION — Planned Parenthood of New York City

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A Conversation with Carrie Mumah, a resident of Park Slope, and the Director of Digital and Media Relations at Planned Parenthood of New York City.

While Planned Parenthood has increasingly been called to stand at the center of contemporary political debates over the legislation of reproductive health care in recent years, the organization itself has been around for more than a century. It was founded in Brooklyn on October 16th, 1916, by New York native and early feminist Margaret Sanger. 100 years later, Planned Parenthood is still servicing countless individuals and providing reproductive health care not only across the nation, but around the globe as well.

Mumah believes that the long lasting nature of the organization is a testament to the value it holds in numerous communities. “Our mission is to provide information and health care to all who need it, and to promote public policies that make those services available to all,” said Mumah. “For 100 years, we have been a resource for all New Yorkers and have empowered individuals to make independent, informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives.”

For Mumah, her relationship with the company began two years ago, when she moved from Washington D.C. to New York City. She soon started working at the Planned Parenthood at NYC, calling the experience “life-changing.” In her two and a half years with the organization, Mumah has learned boundless information from everyone she has interacted with, whether they be “doctors, social workers, financial counselors, sex educators, activists, [or] patients.”

One of the most important concepts Mumah has learned during her time at Planned Parenthood is how indispensible health care really is. “Reproductive health care access is so critical to people’s overall wellbeing,” said Mumah. “Including everything from their physical health, to their mental health, to their economic security and being able to live the lives they want to live.”

While Planned Parenthood is often associated with women in conversations pertaining to health care access, Mumah asserted that they are truly available to everyone. There is a wealth of options and services open to anyone who needs them, extending beyond birth control measures and including HIV and STD testing and treatment. “In NYC, we also recently started offering PrEP, a daily pill to help reduce the risk of HIV, as well as transgender hormone therapy and vasectomy,” stated Mumah. “Planned Parenthood is not just about women’s health—we are here as a resource for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.”

Planned Parenthood is able to look beyond the confines of gender norms because they believe all patients are worthy of the same care. Mumah remarked that is not a matter of defining people but rather about ensuring that “all people can lead healthy lives, we also need to make sure that the full range of reproductive and sexual health care is accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.”

When it comes to abortion and contraception, thorny topics that often prove difficult to navigate, Planned Parenthood’s main goal is to provide as much information as they have at their disposal and to protect their patients’ reproductive rights. Over time, a misconception has emerged that women seeking abortions are villainous or careless. This concept strips women of their humanity while coloring a delicate decision as one of calculated violence, and Mumah wants to help dispel this myth.

“There is no single type of person who gets an abortion,” Mumah asserted. “The people who come to us include people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, and income levels. Some of these people may already have children, and others may not. The important part to know is that these are people who are fully aware of their options and who are making the best decision for them and their families. All people should have the right to decide when and if to have children, and access to safe and legal abortion is a critical part of reproductive freedom.”

Planned Parenthood has long been aware of their role in the national conversation surrounding women’s rights and reproductive health care, but the subject has recently endured more scrutiny and contention due to the transition of political administrations. Mumah assured that regardless of who may reside in the White House, their mission of helping everyone in need never changes. She stressed that “even as we face attacks, we will continue to fight for the communities we serve.”

Mumah ultimately summed up the history and accomplishments of Planned Parenthood in one word: determination. It’s this same sentiment that has propelled the company forward in the last century and will keep it moving on into the next. Mumah acknowledged this notion with pride, stating, “We’re proud to be here for New Yorkers as a trusted provider and anticipate being here for another 100 years.”

 

How to help Planned Parenthood

• Educate yourself on reproductive health issues

• Spread awareness

• Donate

• Sign up for email alerts

• Raise money locally by hosting creative benefits

• Speak out against hatred, bigotry, and misogyny

• Go to http://www.ppnycaction.org/takeaction to learn more

A Year of Yes at the Brooklyn Museum

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A Conversation with Brooklyn Museum Curator Catherine Morris

For the ten-year anniversary of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum curator Catherine Morris planned a series of exhibitions titled A Year of Yes: Reimagining Feminism, which would begin in October 2016 and end in early 2018. The various exhibits would examine artwork, social movements, and historical periods with a keen feminist eye. When reflecting on the past decade and the ways in which society and media had gradually come to accept feminist methodology more and more, Morris was struck by a thought: how long does a place like the Sackler center need to exist? Is there a day when we will no longer need a center devoted to preserving and educating the public on feminist art?

She did not have to wait long for an answer. In early November, Marilyn Minter’s: Pretty/Dirty exhibit was underway, and Morris and her fellow coordinators looked on with pride. They expected Marilyn Minter’s examination of female body image in America to coincide with a Hillary Clinton presidency; a retrospective on the commercialization and objectification of the female form timely paired with a much-anticipated first female presidency. The coincidental juxtaposition of the two would have in and of itself been a lesson, a lesson that boldly said, “Look how far we’ve come!” Instead, when Election Day arrived the lesson became, “There is still so much left to do.”

 

Marilyn Minter’s Blue Poles from Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty.

 

Morris no longer feels like she needs to question the existence of the Sackler Center; she sees Donald Trump’s presidency as a confirmation of its necessity. “I have to say, since November 8, I don’t want to have that conversation anymore,” said Morris. “That day answered that question for me, at least right now, and for the next four years.”

Morris went on to discuss how the election results shifted the intention and reception of A Year of Yes’s programming. Minter’s show took on an entirely new energy, and suddenly became one that “needed to protest, to talk, to strategize.” Alternatively, the concepts and themes conveyed in another show, We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-85, felt eerily prescient. It is difficult to ignore how, overwhelmingly, white women voted for Trump while a majority of black women voted for Clinton, statistics which reveal in Morris’ mind, “that kind of contested relationship between women who on so many agenda levels want to be allies” but find themselves separated “in a politically divided and racially fraught moment.”

 

Faith Ringgold’s Early Works #25: Self-Portrait, 1965 from We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-85.

 

We Wanted a Revolution, which opens April 21, details how the feminist movement emerged in African-American communities in the sixties and examines what Morris openly identified as an “uncomfortable relationship between women of color who did not necessarily always feel welcome, understood, or even heard, within the context of second-wave feminism which was largely white, middle-class, post-college degree-[holding] women.” Morris noted that it is worth looking at both feminist history and its present-day practice with a critical eye, cracking it open to point out the flaws that lie within. Even Minter often faced criticism from fellow women for her artwork, despite being an outspoken and self-identifying feminist herself. “Feminism is not a monolithic thing,” insisted Morris. “It is in fact, intersectional in and of itself, and is only enriched by having these complicated discussions.”

Even the word feminism itself carries a weighted and complex history. While men and women alike once balked at the word, which evinced mental images of enraged women brandishing burning bras, it has come a long way in the national lexicon. It still faces criticism, but it also holds a new status in the media, with pop culture icons like Beyonce and Taylor Swift declaring themselves feminist as mass crowds of impressionable girls look on in admiration. Morris said in her lifetime, “the ebb and flowing of the term is enormous” and it has gotten to a point where “in the digital era, its value changes from week to week.”

For her, this is evidence of the word’s importance, even if some view it as radical or demeaning towards men. “We also are acknowledging the fact that even if the term is problematic, the impulse towards gender equity or parity is certainly a human rights issue that I think you’d be very hard pressed to find anybody say they didn’t agree with,” reasoned Morris. “Different people just have different ways of defining it, contextualizing it, being comfortable with it.”

This range in interpretation and definition extends to the series of exhibits themselves. Despite varying subject matter, the exhibitions are all tied together by the unique tools feminism has provided historians; one of the most important of these tools being historical revisionism, which allows canonical histories to be rewritten. Consider Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party (1974-79), a commemorative art piece depicting a banquet with a place setting reserved for thirty nine women of historical importance. Morris explained that “even in the earliest moments of second wave feminism, artists, curators, and historians were really wanting to change history; to talk about the people who were overlooked and put them back into it.”

 

Piece by Amarna King from A Woman’s Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt.

 

Historical revisionism also helps to understand the past in new ways. For instance, A Woman’s Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt may look back on a time period when feminism did not yet exist, but it proves that exploration of a subject through a particular lens can unearth new discoveries. Morris said that with more women entering the field of Egyptology, unique conclusions are being drawn by archaeologists who are able to “look at things differently and ask certain questions, and as a result, get different answers.”

Morris hopes that those who come to the Brooklyn Museum to experience any of A Year of Yes’ many exhibits leave with a new understanding of the world around them and recognize the value of making room for other people’s stories. The driving force of the exhibition series is to be a space of inclusion and education. “I think that as I have said many, many, times I am really proud to be the curator of the Center of Feminist Art and not the Center of Women’s Art,” said Morris. “I think feminism applies to everybody.”

 

Upcoming and ongoing exhibitions:

Infinite Blue (Nov. 25, 2016 – Nov. 5, 2017)

A Woman’s Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt (Dec. 15, 2016 – ongoing)

Georgia O’Keefe: Living Modern (March 3, 2017 – July 23, 2017)

Utopia Station (March 2017 – ongoing)

We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965-85 (April 21, 2017 – Sept. 17, 2017)

The Roots of “The Dinner Party” (Oct. 20, 2017 – early 2018)

A Feminist Timeline (Oct. 20, 2017 – early 2018)

 

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/year_of_yes_reimagining_feminism

Park Slope Votes

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Every four years November acts as a pivotal month in our nation’s political calendar. The months of lively debate leading up to the election often cause tensions to flare in communities across America, and never has an election stirred up controversy and vitriol as much as this one has.

Yet, despite all of this, the majority of local residents seem squarely unified against a particular candidate in the running for the future President of the United States. It should not come as a surprise, that in a community as diverse and unique as Park Slope, that a certain resentment would be felt towards Donald Trump — a man who has distanced himself from nearly every minority group with reliably divisive rhetoric.

There are a number of Americans who admire Trump for saying what others won’t, and for not shying away from the more turbulent areas of conversation that most politicians avoid. But there are also those who find this mindset distasteful.

“I don’t like Donald Trump, especially for the Mexican people,” said Luis Correa, 64, local resident and taxi driver. “He speaks poorly of us.” Correa identifies as an Independent but he finds himself drawn towards Hillary Clinton, finding her likable and attentive. “She works for honest, hardworking people. She works for my community.”

For many, the upcoming election results are cause for concern, with supporters on both sides keeping their nominees aloft in the polls. But for Correa, the future is clear. “I’m not worried,” he said firmly, rapping his knuckles decisively against the top of his taxi cab. “Hillary Clinton will be our next president.”

img_9171Lizette Chaparro, 26, works for a non-profit affordable housing company and is a proud Democrat. She said that her party has “long championed the well being of the working class and has reached out to communities of color.” She plans on voting for Clinton come fall, “for obvious reasons.” She is genuinely a supporter of Clinton’s policies and calls her “the most experienced candidate running for office,” but she also is driven by a desire to “make sure Donald Trump doesn’t end up in the White House.”

Chaparro also praised Clinton for championing women’s rights. “As a future mother, I worry about equal pay and maternity leave,” Chaparro said. “If Hillary Clinton wins the White House she’ll do a lot for working women. She’s very focused on giving women equal rights and opportunity in the workplace.”

img_9165David Hoffer, 58, is a computer technician who has been a Democrat for his entire life. He believes in the Democratic party because “they seem to care more about people and want to truly do good for us.” He paused for a moment before admitting, “At least most of the time.”

Hoffer expressed his discontent with the current voting system in place. “It’s all gone digital. I know technology progresses, we all progress, but if you look at any other field where technology is a large component – there’s always going to be people who try to supersede the rules. It’s too easily hackable; it’s hard to challenge discrepancies.” Hoffer said frustration in the voting system is nothing new, referencing the Florida election recount of 2000 and the controversy over hanging chads, stating that gray areas such as this hamper true democracy.

When asked about his thoughts on Trump as a presidential nominee, Hoffer could not help but laugh and respond, “Where to begin? I think he’s the biggest pathological liar and bigot there is. The fact that so many support him makes me wonder about our country.” For Hoffer, his vote is less a personal choice and more about choosing the lesser of two evils. “I’m not a big fan of Hillary, but choosing between the two? No question.”

riyana-dasguptaLocal graduate student Riyana Dasgupta, 23, believes that this election has “struck a chord with many people for a variety of reasons” and that it is much more than a popularity contest. “The presidential candidates’ policies and character brings out the morality of their supporters,” said Dasgupta. “And I think this election has a lot to do with morals, in addition to electing a new Commander-in-Chief.”

Dasgupta described Clinton and Trump diplomatically, stating that, “One of the candidates has well thought out policies, a solid temperament, and a positive character that can truly enact change in this country. The other candidate, however, has policies that have the potential to do more harm than good and a quick, haughty temperament.”

However Park Slope residents personally felt towards either candidate, each expressed encouragement in every American’s right to vote. “I would like to see more people, older and younger alike, come out and vote,” said Dasgupta. With support mounting on both sides, whether passionate or resigned, this election in particular will ride on the citizens who actively stand in line for the voting box come November 8th.